Pickering leads charge as Monarchs secure bonus

Josh Pickering powered to 15 points as Edinburgh Stellar Monarchs secured the aggregate bonus point in a 50-39 defeat at Scunthorpe Scorpions in the Cab Direct Championship.

Monarchs bosses felt an 11 point defeat on the night was a respectable outcome as the side trailed by 18 after eight heats.

The Armadale men dug in and Pickering and fellow heat-leader Justin Sedgmen secured the bonus point in Heat 13. Scunthorpe move into second place in the nine-strong table with the win, two points behind leaders Oxford with both clubs having completed eight matches.

Pickering said: “It was always going to be tough as Scunthorpe are dialled in around their home track. The meeting did not start well, but the result was there in the end.”

The popular Aussie felt every rider played a part and rivalries are set to be renewed when the sides meet in the BSN Series semi-finals later this season.

Scunthorpe Scorpions 50: Howarth 11+3, Palm Toft R/R, Lambert 14, Mountain 6+2, Allen 9, Ablitt 5+1, Harrison 5

Stellar Monarchs 39: Pickering 15+1, Thomson 4+1, Fredriksen 2, Castagna 7, Sedgmen 8+1, James 1+1, Coles 2

PICTURE: Josh Pickering and his pit crew at Armadale. Picture by Nigel Duncan